Unearthing pre-Malacca Malacca

Malaysians and Singaporeans would be familiar about how a Sumatran prince named Parameswara founded the Malacca Sultanate, but was there a settlement already existing before the prince’s visit? The state of Malacca is hoping to fund researchers interested in uncovering the history of Malacca before it was founded as the Sultanate of Malacca in the 14th century.

Malacca prior to Parameswara
The Star, 02 August 2008

The state will set up a special fund for archaeologists and historians to carry out research to prove the historic city of Malacca existed prior to the establishment of the 15th Century Sultanate.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the fund, comprising allocations from the state and the Heritage Ministry, would be used to determine the existence of a civilisation before the 1400s.

â€œIt is not disputed that Paraâ€“meswara founded the Malay Sulâ€“tanate in the 1400â€™s but what we want to know is what was Malacca like prior to his arrival.